Message by The Duchess of Cambridge on Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

6 May 2022

The birth of a child is one of life’s greatest gifts. But it can also be one of the most challenging times for many families and one that should not be faced alone.

This Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week is about the power and importance of connection. The past couple of years have reminded us just how much we need each other and how vital our relationships are to our long-term health and happiness. This starts in the very earliest years of our lives, when we need close and continuous care from the people around us to nurture our development and ensure that we get the right start in life.

But we all know that pregnancy, childbirth and the first months and years of a child’s life can be hugely demanding. Parents often feel lonely and overwhelmed by these early years. Around twenty per cent of women in the UK are reported to experience perinatal mental illness. Sadly, we also know that many more are suffering in silence. No one is immune to experiencing anxiety and depression during this time.

It is crucial, therefore, that all those who might be struggling are given the right support at the right time, so that they’re able to share these feelings without fear of judgement and can access the information, care and support they so desperately need to recover.

Over the last decade, charities and organisations working in this space have come together to transform attitudes, raise awareness and ensure that services are available to parents and babies at this important time in their lives. Much of this vital work has been led by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, a fantastic organisation of which I am extremely proud to become Patron of today.

There is plenty more to be done. And it’s down to each and every one of us to support parents and carers, and all those who are raising children today. Because by ensuring that the next generation of children can thrive, we can help to build a stronger, healthier and more nurturing society which benefits us all.

来源 | 英文巴士

制作 | 简妮

审核 | 肖英 / 蓝莓

终审 | 清欢